It has been rewarding to see the early impacts of TFFF’s A Connected, Resilient, and Futureproof Community strategy after two years of implementation. In FY23, this values-based approach has seen TFFF distribute $7.343 million to 40 organisations.
Increased community connection was enabled through 31 one-off project grants, most facilitated through our partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). The FRRR has expertise in delivering grassroots grants programs and we were pleased to renew our partnership with FRRR for another three years in this most recent year.
The TFFF invested in building the resilience of 22 not-for-profit organisations and their leadership. Trustees and Advisors approved 14 new agreements for multi-year general operating support totalling $4.640 million, joining the organisations approved in FY22. A significant portion of this funding is co-administered through the Australian Cultural Fund’s Amplify initiative — an example of the TFFF’s leadership in encouraging more and better philanthropy for Australia’s arts and cultural sector.
The Futureproofing stream saw the TFFF collaborate with more than 30 philanthropic partners to address emergent and systemic challenges in child wellbeing, arts and cultural policy, remote secondary and tertiary education, and professional development for regional leaders. We also initiated the TFFF Executive Leadership Program with The University of Queensland Business School, enabling 12 funded organisations to participate in a tailored professional development course at no cost to participants.
TFFF Trustees, Advisors and staff undertook several site visits. August saw us in Darwin meeting with and supporting a range of organisations and events including Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Festival and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.
In September, staff attended Philanthropy Australia’s National Conference as well as the Social Enterprise World Forum. It was a pleasure to host our Arts Funder Network peers at the opening weekend of Brisbane Festival and profile Queensland to the national philanthropic sector.
Trustees, Advisors and staff visited tropical Far North Queensland for the world premiere of Circa Cairns' first major production, From Old Things. While in town there was the opportunity to connect with Cape York Partnership, Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good, JUTE Theatre Company, and Youth Cre8 Kuranda.
We drove out to Laidley Community Centre in March to see the good work of its Early Connections Program for Under 5s and their parents. The driving continued with a road trip between Winton and Longreach for Opera Queensland’s Festival of Outback Opera. Trustees enjoyed the opening of Crossroad Arts’ experiential production Breathe In as part of Mackay Festival at the end of June.
Finally, the TFFF staff grew with the addition of Office Coordinator Sahala Stone in May 2023, a sign of the Foundation’s reach and maturity. It was certainly a busy year, and we thank Trustees and Advisors for all their attention and care to the TFFF’s grantmaking and engagement activities.
| Tim Fairfax AC Chair | Dr Neal Harvey CEO |
Photos by Thomas Oliver for Atmosphere Photography
